SECOND HALF SURGE BY #8 KNIGHTS UPENDS MONMOUTH

PISCATAWAY, NJ – After a scoreless first half, the Rutgers University men's soccer team exploded for five second-half goals, including two from sophomore Sherif El Bialy (Cairo, Egypt), en route to a 5-1 win over Monmouth tonight at Yurcak Field.
                 The Scarlet Knights peppered 39 shots on goal in the contest, while improving to 7-1-2 on the season. Monmouth fell to 3-9.
                 Rutgers fired 17 shots in the first half, but failed to convert as the two teams went into the intermission in a scoreless tie. Less than five minutes into the second half, RU’s relentless pressure paid off, as El Bialy smacked a 20-yard half-volley into the side of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Monmouth, however, tied the match at the 57:24 mark, as Frank Loconte (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) sent a cross into the box for Nick Randazzo (Bridgeton, N.J./Cumberland), who headed the ball past Ricky Zinter (Penfield, NY). The play began when Zinter left the goal area to clear an initial breakaway.
                 Just two minutes later, RU reclaimed the lead, as Todd Moser (Fanwood, NJ) scored off a feed from Chris Karcz (Clifton, NJ) for his first goal of the season. El Bialy then struck again, his second of the game and fifth of the season, followed by Dennis Ludwig (Mt. Laurel, NJ), who scored his team-leading eighth goal to extend the lead to 4-1.
                 With most of the starters on the bench, sophomore Matt Veltri (Sussex, NJ) netted his first career goal at the 77:58 mark to push the lead to 5-1. Freshman Brian Johnson (Marshfield, MA) picked up his first collegiate assist on the play.
                 Rutgers out-shot Monmouth 39-4 in the contest and held an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. MU’s Frank Gullace (Brick, N.J./St. Rose) stopped eight shots in net, while Zinter saved two while improving his season record to 3-0-1 since replacing injured starter J.D. Martin (North Brunswick, NJ). El Bialy led the way with two goals, while Moser added a goal and two assists. Karcz also chipped in with two assists, including the game-winner.
                 Monmouth returns to action on Sunday afternoon when it travels to Sacred Heart University for an NEC matchup at 2:00 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.
 

BOX SCORE
MU 0 1 - 1
RU 0 5 - 5

RU – El Bialy (Karcz) 49:00, MU – Randazzo (Loconte) 57:24, RU – Moser (Karcz) 59:24, RU – El Bialy (Moser), RU – Ludwig (Moser), RU – Veltri (Johnson) 77:58.

Shots:  MU – 4
 RU – 39
Corners: MU – 2
 RU – 8
Saves: MU – Gullace, 8
 RU – Zinter, 2